About Precast Concrete

Why use precast concrete? What are the advantages of precast concrete products, versus other products in the marketplace?

Precast concrete has enjoyed a well-earned reputation as the strongest and most durable material used for producing various types of pipes, manholes, catch basins and precast structure products. It's by far the most widely used building material on earth and has been for hundreds of years - and that is exactly why you should be using it. The long-lasting nature, strength and durability of concrete are the most compelling reasons to use concrete.

Precast concrete responds well to stress and is able to withstand intense environmental conditions. Its structural strength is far superior and can be easily adjusted through several variance methods such as the amount of reinforcing steel used in the product, or the wall thickness of a concrete structure. A properly produced precast concrete system lacks many of the problems inherent in other similarly used products, such as differential deflection, infiltration, and exfiltration. The quality control of precast concrete products is superior through rigorous production site testing according to ASTM specifications. Because concrete is comprised entirely of natural materials, i.e. portland cement, water, air, sand and gravel, concrete is environmentally-friendly, an important consideration in today's environmentally-conscious world.

Unlike other materials, concrete's heavy weight resists flotation forces, making it easier to install in adverse conditions. Concrete continues to gain strength for years after installation. Concrete is a rigid material, providing structural support; particularly when the concrete product is reinforced with other materials, such as steel. Steel-reinforced concrete products have the synergy of concrete and steel working together to provide a material of superior strength and durability. Concrete strength is reliable and easily confirmed through routine plant testing. Investigations of many old concrete pipe installations have demonstrated excellent durability with increased strength and superior abrasion resistance in adverse environments. Today, the precast concrete industry is benefiting from recent advances in technology which are enabling producers to develop and create a better product than ever before. Modern design and production techniques, in addition to a multitude of advances in associated products such as gaskets, seals, liners, wire products, cement and more, are leading to a superior precast concrete product.

The Technology of Precast Concrete Products

"Concrete will go through an explosion of understanding in the 1990's. It's a material for the twenty-first century." (Francis Young, professor of civil engineering at the University of Illinois)

For the past several years, technological advances contributed to building superior precast concrete products. Suppliers to the concrete industry have played a significant role in these advances.

Recent breakthroughs have resulted in concrete's strength to being nearly 20,000 pounds per square inch (140 MPa)-about 6 times that of a sidewalk or driveway. Researchers have achieved strengths of 100,000 psi (690 (MPa) and other research is transforming concrete into wholly new products with products that rival plastic, aluminum, and ceramics. New and improved admixtures can customize concrete to flow like water, reduce setting time from days to hours, or dramatically increase strength.

Proper curing techniques are responsible for enhancing the beneficial properties of precast concrete, including strength, durability and watertightness. Greater attention to curing yields less permeable and stronger concrete. Most precast concrete producers employee modern curing systems. Automated curing systems ensure greater reliability, less maintenance, lower operating costs, increased safety and a better, stronger product.

Precast utility vaults have eliminated field installation problems associated with cast in place designs. Improvements such as conduit terminators, cast in custom pulling irons, ground rods, and other accessories have greatly improved installation and watertightness.

Advances in reinforcing technology have raised the level of product quality, strength, and consistency. Steel welded wire fabrics and state of the art reinforcing cage production equipment allow producers to meet design requirements and allow for special products.

High quality concrete today is the product of advanced mixing equipment. This combined with machines and forms that utilize proven methods of vibration and pressure to form the concrete leads to cost efficient and consistent products for the end user. Expect that in the coming years, additional technology will only continue to expand the strength, reliability and creative utility of the precast concrete product.

What kind of products are available?

You might be surprised at the variety of products available today in the precast industry. Precast concrete lends itself to a wide range of uses and products: pipe, manholes, catch basins, box culverts, drains, bridges, vaults, septic tanks, electrical junction boxes, risers, bollards, and more. Traditional uses for precast concrete products such as storm sewer and sanitary sewer pipe have expanded to include non-traditional items such as precast concrete prison cells.